Pintle as Safe Recovery Point

[greytandy]

I don't have a hitch on my 40 and am looking for a reliable rear recovery point. How safe is a pintle with a 3" recovery strap? Any other suggestions appreciated. The style of pintle I'm looking at is below.

 

[e9999]

pintle hook is surely strong enough.
Depends what you attach it to.
and I would check to see that the strap can't slip out if the top lifts a bit...

 

[greytandy]

I would check to see that the strap can't slip out if the top lifts a bit...

That's exactly what I was wondering.

 

[brianinaustin]

Sounds like a bad idea. I hate to shoot down your idea, but towing and winching are dangerous enough without shortcuts. Maybe you could find a rated shackle mounted on a pintle hook paterned plate.

edit: Maybe you could put a ring on your tow strap???

 

[e9999]

yes, a big shackle on the strap and there is no chance it will slip out.
Pintle hook won't break I'm pretty sure. probably much stronger than most shackles and recovery points.
So that leaves what the pintle is bolted on as the potential weak point (use serious high grade bolts). A flmsy bolted on cross-member may not do.

 

[Mark W]

A pintle is as safe as you are going to get. It is not in any way a "shortcut". Your only concern when using a pintle is that it is properly mounted. Why would anyoine think otherwise???

As to slipping out of the pintle. Maybe if you have a very worn out lock (which would take years and years of daily use to happen). Or maybe if you had some sort of really really cheap "Made In China" crap for a pintle. But any halfway decent unit will not allow enough gap in the pintle to let a strap through, even if you tried. You might manage to get the strap to jam an edge between the two halves of the pintle. Done that a couple of times.

Anchor your pintle securely and it is the best recovery point you will get.


Mark...

 

[CruisinGA]

Standard combination pintle from Northern Tool fit the bolt pattern on my '74 40...

Keep in mind that unless reinforced, the stock bumper hitch mounting holes cannot be considered particularly strong.

 

[Mark W]

Yep, you'll pucker your rear cross member with just a few good hard hits of a snatch strap. If you don't install a rear bumper (even if you do, really) you need to reinforce that crossmember. I lay a section of 1/4 inch steel on the backside and also install a 2x3/8 insh gusset all the way across from the diagonals. If a bumoer is installed, tie it into the lateral frame rails to, out at the ends, not just to the crossmember itself.


Mark...

 

[haryv]

That looks like the pintle hook we used to tow multimillion dollar aircraft in the service. I dont know how safe thay are rated for highway speeds. Also by your self a set of leather gloves and use them when using the pintle. thay can exibit a nasty pinch if your hands are in it when pressing down on them.

 

[Mark W]

Used on the highways by military, private and commercial vehicles all over the World.


Mark...

 

[cruiseroutfit]

As everyone has noted, assuming your bumper is up to par... I can't think of a better place to hook it. Centered on the rigs axis of pull, distributed equally along framerails, etc.